There are three different forms of organizedhydrological co-operation between the Nordic countries:Denmark,Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden:

Nordic Association for Hydrology

UNESCO, IHP/Hydrological Commitees

Nordic Operational Hydrological Institutes

The main activity of the Association is publishing the international journal "Nordic Hydrology" and the Nordic periodical "Vannet i Norden - Water in Nordic Countries". The Association also organizes every second
year, on a rotational basis, the Nordic Hydrological Conference (NHK), next time in Uppsala, Sweden in 2000.

The main function of the Nordic IHP/Hydrological Committees is to encourage and stimulate regional
co-operation between institutions across the national boarders of the region. Joint projects are carried out within the Nordic Hydrological Programme (NHP). The coordination of NHP is carried out by KOHYNO (Coordination committee
of hydrology in the Nordic countries; one member from each Nordic country).

The co-operation between the Nordic Operational Hydrological Institutes is mainly focused on instruments and methods for hydrological
measurements, collection, transmission, processing, storage and publication of basic data, hydrological forecasting and development and improvement of relevant methods and techniques in network design, specification of instruments
and development of geographical information systems (coordination by the Chiefs of the Hydrological Institutes of the Nordic countries - CHIN).

The joint NHP projects are subdivided into three groups: (1) projects with
a specific IHP orientation contributing to specific projects under IHP V, (2) Nordic operational hydrological projects (OHP projects) and (3) other nordic hydrological research projects or contributions.

Joint NHP
projects are carried out in two year phases within the Nordic Hydrological Programme (NHP). The activities in NHP can be a working group, an expert meeting, a seminar or a research/development project. The results of NHP are
published in the series "NHP-reports" and "Vannet i Norden" and reported at Nordic Hydrological Conferences.

2. FRIEND (Flow Regimes from International Experimental and Network Data)
http://www.nve.no/prosjekter/friendno.htmType of activity: Project.Background:
The FRIEND (Flow Regimes from International Experimental and Network Data) research programme is an international study in regional hydrology. FRIEND is currently project 1.1 of
UNESCO's fifth International Hydrological Programme (IHP). From a modest beginning in 1985 there are now seven international FRIEND projects in operation (North European FRIEND, Alpine and
Mediterranean -AMHY FRIEND, Hindu Kush – Himalayan – HKH FRIEND, Asian Pacific FRIEND, West and Central Africa – AOC FRIEND, Southern Africa FRIEND and Nile Basin FRIEND), with
new projects emerging in South and Central America, the Carribean and Middle East.Objectives: - To develop a better understanding of hydrological variability and similarity across different regions
through the mutual exchange of data, knowledge and techniques.Work contents: There are currently 5 sub-programmes in North European FRIEND:

Milestones: The fourth international FRIEND conference is planned to take place in Africa in 2001. Next steering committee meeting for both North European FRIEND and FRIEND Inter-group
coordination committee (FIGCC) will be organised in Koblenz in March 1999.Programme relation: IHP V, project 1.1.Coordinator: Einar Berntsen, UiO (E-mail:

http://w3.gkss.de/baltex/baltex_home.htmlType of activity: Project.Background:
Our ability to understand, and to predict weather, climate, and global change depends critically on our capability to measure and model all these processes determining the water and energy
cycles between and within the components of our climate system. BALTEX, as one GEWEX regional project, will provide much more understanding of these mechanisms and processes. Several EU funded
projects on modeling and measuring the energy and water cycles of the Baltic Sea and its drainage basin are running.Objectives:
- to obtain better and more comprehensive observations from the entire Baltic Sea catchment area- to develop more realistic coupled models for the atmosphere, the land surface including rivers and
lakes and the Baltic Sea and the sea-iceWork contents: The main BALTEX experiment (BRIDGE) will be a central element during 1999-2000.
BRIDGE is the central observational and modeling phase of the BALTEX program. NOPEX will give input to BALTEX. The Baltic Sea catchment area recently has been extended to include Kattegat and
sounds, including the cathment area to Limfjorden (likely to increase the interest in participating in BALTEX in Norway and Denmark).Milestones:
BRIDGE is planned to take place from April 1999 to March 2001 (the first 6 month pilote phase and the remaining 18 moths the basic observation phase).Programme relation: WCRP and GEWEX, UNESCO-IHP V, project 1.2.
Coordinator: Anders Omstedt (E-mail: aomstedt@smhi.se), SMHI, S-601 76 Norrköping, Sweden.Partners:
L. Laursen, DMI and Dan Rosbjerg, DTU/ISVA, Denmark, Pertti Senna, FEI, FinlandReporting: Publications please contact the International BALTEX secretariat (E-mail: isemer@gkss.de).

4. NRB (Northern Research Basins)

http://www.os.is/vatnam/nrbType of activity:
Seminar/workshop.Background: NRB is mainly a series of meetings (including workshops) held every second year. Last NRB meeting was the 11th NRB Symposium in Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, 18-22 August 1997. Final
reporting included: (1) Water movement in frozen soils and (2) Assessment of methods to link hydrological models with GCM climate model output.Objectives:
There are one or two taskforces working with special topic on which they report in the next NRB meeting:- Northern hydrologic processes in climate models- Water movement in frozen ground- Remote sensing
Work contents: Theme for 12th NRB: High latitude hydrology and global climate.Milestones: 12th NRB Symposium and workshop in Iceland August 23-27, 1999 in Reykjavik.
Programme relation: IHP V, project 1.3.Coordinator: Esko Kuusisto, FEI (E-mail: Esko.Kuusisto@vyh.fi
), Finnish Environment Institute, Box 140, FIN-00251 Helsinki, Finland.Partners: Bent Hasholt, KU and Mogens Brems, Asiaq (Denmark/Greenland), Jonas Eliasson, UI,
Iceland, Knut Sand, SINTEF, Norway, Lars Bengtsson, LTH, Sweden.Reporting: Selected papers will be published in Nordic Hydrology by the end of 1998.

5. New Strategies for Monitoring of Groundwater Pollution RisksType of activity: Seminar.Background:
Symposium in 1997: (1) What goals shall be set up for groundwater monitoring, (2) Optimization – revision of the groundwater sampling net, (3) Ecological quality criteria – instrument which
will assist in the work separating effects of human activities from natural variations and (4) Early warning systems, modelling of scenario.Objectives: To arrange a follow up seminar in 2000.Work contents:
Milestones:Programme relation: IHP project. IHP V project 3.2.Coordinator: Marianne Lilliesköld (E-mail:

6. Groundwater 2000 – International Conference on Groundwater Research

http://www.isva.dtu.dk/grc/gw2000/Type of activity: Seminar.Background:
Groundwater is a crucial resource for drinking water in many countries. Results of recent research have substantially improved our understanding of how aquifer properties and physical, chemical,
and microbiological processes affect its quantity and quality. Nevertheless, many basic and applied problems are still poorly understood calling for continued and dedicated research efforts. Research on
the fundamental processes of flow and solute transport in groundwater aquifers needs to be further advanced. Current research, however, also marks a transition to more engineering-related topics such as
remediation technologies for cleaning up contaminated soils and aquifers. It is the perspective of the conference to accentuate this transition by addressing new research on the governing physical and
reactive processes in natural and contaminated aquifers as well as new measures for groundwater protection and new technologies for passive and active remediation.Objectives:
It is the primary aim of the conference to create an interdisciplinary forum for presentation and exchange of the most recent advances in groundwater research with a maintained focus on selected key issues:

Work contents: The fate of organic compounds in groundwater may relate to a large number of different xenobiotic contaminants like, for example, chlorinated aliphatics, BTEX, polar compounds and
pesticides. Redox processes have been recognised as particularly important for degradation of xenobiotic contaminants in aquifers. Identification of redox conditions, however, is not a trivial concept
and process description may include geochemistry and microbiology. Field studies addressing both contaminated and pristine groundwater are welcome. Remedial actions are considered in a broad context
allowing for contributions to development of remedial technologies, groundwater protection schemes, risk assessment of pollution, and decision analysis techniques.Milestones:
1 September 1999 Receipt of abstracts (one page). 1 December 1999 Notification of abstract acceptance. 15 February 2000 Submission of short papers. 6-8 June 2000 Conference in Copenhagen.Programme relation: Other.
Coordinator: Dan Rosbjerg (E-mail:

7. Time Series AnalysisType of activity: Project.
Background:Analysis of temporal variation in trend in time series of measured precipitation, discharge and evapotranspirationObjectives:Work contents:
Current analysis: aimed at finding the importance of evaporation on long term variations.Milestones: Meeting in Walingform 2-4 December. Meeting in project group early 1999 to plan activities during 1999-2000.
Programme relation: CHIN project.Coordinator: Søren E. Larsen (E-mail:

8. Nordic Water Balance Map 1961-90Type of activity: Project&workshop.
Background: Water balance maps include mean precipitation, corrected for wind and measurements losses, evapotranspiration and runoff maps, shat should be consistent. The maps summarise data of
water flux and water budgets at different spatial scales. WMO has decided that statistical parameters used for climate description should be produced for every 30 years period, that means 1931-60,
1961-90. Generalized Nordic water balance maps have been produced for the period 1931-60 and there is a need for new ones. Therefore, the Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI)
proposed a project called Nordic Water Balance Maps in 1996 and CHIN accepted it for the period 1997-98. The aim was to generalise the water balance maps from the Nordic countries for the period
1961-90 in a geographical information system (GIS). The Baltic countries showed also interest in the project. But, the project seemed to be initiated too early as most of the countries have no water balance
maps ready for the whole period 1961-90.Objectives: The aim is to produce generalized water balance maps (areal corrected precipitation, runoff
and evaporation) as mean for the period 1961-90 for the Nordic countries and also the Baltic countries if possible. There is a large interest in such maps, especially for comparison with climate models.Work contents:
Each country make their own water balance map with the methods they choose themselves. Thereafter the group meet to discuss the generalization and changes along the borders that
may arise, and the transformation to Arc Info (on a few days practical workshop).Milestones: Sweden: Maps are ready. Finland: Have started with part of the country. Hope to be ready
in two years. Norway and Iceland: Have started with part of the country, hope to be ready in two years. Denmark: Work is going on to produce maps for different periods. Generalized maps for 1961-90 will
be ready in the beginning of 1999 and more detailed maps for 1971-90 and 1971-97. Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania: Will be invited to participate in the project. Not all maps may be contributed.Programme relation:
CHIN project.Coordinator: Maja Brandt (E-mail:

9. Exchange NetworksType of activity: Standing coordination groupBackground: Hydrological institutes (and some other groups of organisations as well) use very much
resources for hydrological monitoring. CHIN decided to form a coordination group for hydrological observation networks in its meeting in August 1998.Objectives:
The group will exchange and communicate information on hydrological networks and formulate specific projects in the following areas:- (1) network structures and design,- (2) standards of operation,
- (3) measurement technologies- (4) international cooperation.Work contents: The members of the group will form a network between the Nordic hydrological
institutes. Other members of the hydrological community - both inside and outside the Nordic countries - are very important as well.Milestones: Not defined yet.Programme relation: CHIN project.
Coordinator: Markku Puupponen (E-mail:

http://geophysics.helsinki.fi/opetus/lumikurssi.htmlType of activity: Course.
Background: Based on two submitted proposals for NHP: "An advanced course on "Snow in North European Environment" and "Education in hydrology" it is suggested to merge the two proposals into
one project: "Education in hydrology". This project will serve as an umbrella for different Nordic countries offered in the field of hydrology. The course would mainly be aimed at the postgraduate level.
At this level the number of students in each country is small, and both students and staff would benefit form larger number of students, and most important a larger selection of courses offered.Objectives:
To organise common Nordic courses in Hydrology.Work contents: The NHP project "Education in Hydrology" will serve as an umbrella for a set of
courses offered by the Nordic institutions involved. The first course to be included is "Snow in NorthEuropean Environment", which is organised by the Helsinki University. During 1999 additional
courses will be offered by the University of Oslo and Uppsala University. The courses offered need to be intensive courses (1-3 weeks) and the language should be English. A common presentation of courses,
including credits, prerequisites, level, examination, etc. needs to be developed.Milestones: Establish the common Nordic project "Education in Hydrology" and offer courses within
this organisation structure to graduate students in the Nordic countries. It is expected that this could be the start of a future cooperation between a larger number of educational institutions in the Nordic countries.
Programme relation: Other nordic R/D project.Coordinator: Matti Leppäranta, Department of Geophysics, University of Helsinki, Box 4, FIN-00014 Helsinki, Finland. E-mailPartners:Lena Tallaksen (E-mail:
lena.tallaksen@geofysikk.uio.no
), Dept. of Geophysics, University of Oslo, Postbox 1022, Blindern, 0315 Oslo, Norway, Lars-Christer Lundin, Dept. of Earch Sciences Hydrologi, Uppsala University, Villavägen 16, SE-752 36, Uppsala, Sweden.Reporting:
Other.

11. Long term Impact of agriculture on losses of nitrogen from land to seaType of activity: Project.Background: Objectives: Platform for Nordic cooperation of activities to fund RTD projects:
- Purpose is to develop a joint research programWork contents: Three workgroup meetings: (1) Empirical evidences of the long-term impact of
agriculture on nutrient losses from land to sea in the Nordic countries, (2) Modeling approaches that take into account processes that influence the long-term impact of nutrients from land to sea, and (3) The
development of agriculture (land-use, drainage activities, input of nitrate crop yields) during the past century and its impact on catchment scale nutrient budget.Milestones:
Investigation of the role of groundwater in the large-scale retention of groundwater. Funding from EU to investigate the role of groundwater in the large-scale retention of groundwater has been achieved.Programme relation:
Other R/D project.Coordinator: Anders Grimval, SLU (E-mail: